PHILADELPHIA–Over two hundred people gathered for the second annual iftar held at the Mayorâ€™s Reception Hall at the Philadelphia City Hall.

â€œPhiladelphia is a city founded on the principles of religious freedom and tolerance [and] I have tremendous respect for the many, many members of the Muslim community,â€ said Mayor Michael Nutter.

â€œAnd we all would do well to better understand the many religions practiced in our city, across the country and around the world. The people in Philadelphia who practice the faith of Islam are people who worship regularly, look after their children, are actively engaged in their community and are peace loving, law abiding citizens of Philadelphia.â€

Other speakers at the event included Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. and Ryan N. Boyer, business manager for the Laborers District Council, who hosted the Iftar; Katera Y. Moore, of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); and Khalid Blankinship. Ph.D., who gave the keynote address.

In his speech, Blankinship focused on the theme of equality and stated that the Ramadan act of fasting is an â€œethical teaching, teaching equality for all the world. There is too much unequal treatment. [But] Islam calls for equal treatment of everyone.â€

Community iftar held at Malden City Hall

MALDEN,MA–The American Association for Arab Women (AAAW) hosted their annual Ramadan Community Iftar on July 19. More than 200 people attended the event including Mayor Gary Christenson and several elected officials. The Mayor truly impressed the attendees when he delivered his greetings from the City in Arabic!

Habiba Idrissi, Outreach Director for AAAW, organized the gathering in an effort to unite friends and neighbors of different faiths and cultural backgrounds to celebrate as a community as well as share knowledge about the significance of this holy month.

Rally for Gaza held at University City

University City, MO–More than 300 people of all faiths and backgrounds marched in University City in support of the people of Gaza. Organizers of the rally and march said the purpose was to call for an end to nearly two weeks of fighting. The rally was organized by the the Palestinian Solidarity Committee and the St. Louis Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.